abner

Really?? Sending 7M SMS messages out over a relatively short period of time (less than an hour, at worst), was quite feasible even 15 years ago, when I last worked in that end of the telephony business.

Pollyana

I'm no technical expert, but we could not send more than a certain number every hour. Part of the issue I believe was to do with getting the receipts back.
You want to know more, ask the company running the system. https://www.everbridge.com/products/public-warning/

themerlin

Unfortunately the government is 20 years behind in tech, they had people up all night manually sending SMS's

Pollyana

Nope, night shifts were spent compiling endless stats and reports. SMSs were only sent between 8 and 5.

Personally speaking - yes it probably could have been done faster, especially if the Telcos had done it themselves. However QHealth specifically wanted it done by the Everbridge system used for Emergency Alerts for natural disasters, and so we could only work within the limitations of that system.

Beoz

Early reports say that the Omicron strain produces relatively mild symptoms in the healthy. Jury still out on the elderly and ill.

Meanwhile The WHO, who delayed the release of the news, are now saying this could have been avoided if the developed world had shared the vaccine supply with the developing world. Well we really don't know what the supply was like or whether it was vaccine hesitation or whether these governments didn't push vaccine enough.

If the WHO are correct, which is probably unlikely, then should we see a massive surge for the Pfizer booster in about Feb, 6 months after the peak number of people got the second dose in Oz, will the supply be there, or will focus be on vaccinating Africa.

Again it does beg the question, why are we ditching our AstraZeneca vaccine production capabilities? There is a market for this stuff abroad.

themerlin

Not to mention it's probably better for third world countries due to the temperature requirements.

I think those same production capabilities can be used for Novavax so maybe thats the plan.

Beoz

And cost. From memory AZ was half the price of Pfizer

Brisbannite

Novavax is protein based and a completely different type of vaccine to the mRNAs and AstraZenica.

The best thing we can do for the developing world is to fund Covax properly, and help them to develop their own tech. If Cuba can do it, so can southern Africa.

Beoz

And why not AZ? Oh that's right, it would make Scotty look like he made the right call after all. But that doesn't suit your agenda.

Brisbannite

The only two countries that haven't funded Covax properly are China and Australia. Instead we've both been using our vaccines to advance/protect our own interests in the Asia Pacific region.

Covax was supposed to deliver 2 billion covid-19 vaccines to developing countries this year but has failed miserably, largely due to India preventing export of its vaccines to other countries, but even now that restriction has been lifted we've only supplied 8% of what we promised to Covax. Because Scotty from Marketing's mandarins pissed off Pfizer we're unlikely to get a mRNA vaccine manufactured here when the Astra contract with CSL ends. I'm guessing that China's Sinopharm will be saving lives and winning hearts while we're busy pissing off the French and anyone else we have contracts with.

Amazulu

Australia using vaccine diplomacy in our region - smart move. As is sending troops and cops to the Solomons. Australia does plenty in the foreign aid area

Australia exporting AZ to our region - another smart move. It's an effective vaccine

We'll get an onshore mRNA capability - although it's taking too long

The French were bound to be pissed off with the cancelling of their sub contract - a contract that should never have been entered into - thanks to that Australia-hating idiot Malcolm Turnbull. They'll get over it. What should Australia have done?

Brisbannite

I'm wondering which countries Morrison hasn't pissed off or offended recently. Heck, he even managed to sledge New Zealand (who are the most easy going cuzzy bros) with his 'living in a cave' comments, and offended our own First Nations people with his feels for the poor souls who sailed 12 ships into Sydney harbour all those years ago.

Beoz

Are you British? If so then and with the above comment perhaps you should pack your bags and leave Australia if you feel so strongly about the topic. British on first nations land doesn't really sit well with your ideals.

Amazulu

11 ships